The Nigerian passport has reached its highest position in five years, climbing to 88th out of 199 counties in the latest Henley passport index released on July 18.
The ranking based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and expert analysis, places Nigeria alongside Ethiopia and Myanmar, countries it was previously grouped with when ranked 91st earlier this year.
Despite the slight improvement, the Nigerian passport still only allows visa-free access to 45 countries, similar to last year when it ranked 92nd.
In July 2023, Nigeria was ranked 90th, but later dropped to 97th, trailing behind African nations – Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia.
The passport ranked 98th in 2022 and had dropped as low as 103rd in 2011.
However, In the latest index, Nigeria ranked above six African countries – Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia – similar to last year’s standing.
Seychelles maintain its position as Africa’s most powerful, despite slipping from 22nd to 24th globally, offering visa-free access to 156 destinations.
Globally, Singapore remains the strongest passport, granting access to 193 countries, while Afghanistan continues to rank last, with visa-free access to only 25.
The United States, which once topped for index in 2014, now sits at 10.
-9News Nigeria.
